Lee Dewyze still feeling the good and the bad of 'American Idol'

When Mount Prospect-raised singer-songwriter Lee DeWyze auditioned for the ninth season of "American Idol" a few years ago, he had a bad feeling. It all felt wrong, somehow. He almost got up and left.

The good news: He stayed. And he won.

The bad news: He won.

His first post-"Idol" album, 2010's "Live It Up," sold poorly, and DeWyze was dispatched by his record label in record time. As he struggles to start the post-post-"Idol" phase of his career, he knows that the words "former 'American Idol' winner" will be attached to everything he does, forever.

Has DeWyze, who was a struggling musician and the top paint salesman at Mt. Prospect Paint until that fateful audition day, ever been sorry he didn't leave while he had the chance? "Never. Never," says DeWyze, on the phone from Los Angeles. "Not for one second did I ever say to myself, 'I wish I wouldn't have done ("Idol"),' or, 'That was a bad idea.'"

DeWyze has almost nothing but good things to say about the show, and painstakingly words even the mildest criticisms. The singer, who married over the summer and has a new album tentatively set for release this winter, ran down the highs and lows of life after "Idol."

Some highlights:

On making "Live it Up"

I wasn't necessarily prepared for what (winning "Idol") was, mentally. But musically, when you're making an album, especially coming off a show like "Idol" and going onto a major label, you're the new guy on the block. You're not in a position to say anything (about the album's artistic direction) … But I stand by that album. I love that album. It's a steppingstone.

On fighting to write his own material

Believe me, I did fight for it, because for me to be emotionally connected — it's very hard for me to perform something live that I didn't write. Writing those songs on that album was very important to me. They were like, "I don't know. Everyone's a writer." I was like, how about you listen to some of the things I've written?

On the album's tepid sales

The marketing for my album, I can't … I'll leave it at that. That's not on me. I worked my a-- off when that album came out, to promote it. I still promote it. But I'm not making any excuses. I'm proud of it. I'm not upset about everyone who didn't buy the album, I'm thankful and grateful for everyone that did.

On the seeming interchangeability of recent winners

I wouldn't say I got a raw deal, but when you're compared to other Idols who have nothing to do with your career — you know, you see Kris Allen, David Cook, this whole thing about guys with guitars. We're compared to each other, but we're completely different artists. It's a weird world, coming off of "Idol."

On whether winning was a mixed blessing

My respect for "Idol" will never change. I will always appreciate "American Idol," and I never forget about where I come from. But the truth of the matter is, you come off that show and there are expectations set for you by the media, by the public, by everybody. Rightfully so — that's what you ask for when you go on the show… When you're on the show doing cover songs, no one gets to hear the kind of music you would perform or the songs you've written. Coming off the show it was hard for me, balancing out what people heard and what I do. It's definitely a double-edged sword. I'll always have the "Idol" tag attached to me, and that's OK. I don't shy away from that.

On whether an "Idol" winner ever gets depressed when the next season's winner is crowned, like Miss America probably does

It kind of feels that way in a weird sense. But I didn't spend the next year after I won dreading the day there's a new winner. I spent that time focusing on myself and my career. "Idol" is like a cannon. Once it launches you, it's up to you to do the work. It's a matter of whether your cannonball will fall on a hill, or a flat surface. I tried to make sure my cannonball landed on a hill, and that it kept moving.

On his upcoming album

It's never been more of a perfect fit than it is right now. Everyone always says, "This is my best album," but I've never put so much into anything in my entire life. I kind of look at the silver lining of it all. I can do what I want now.